Shortly after the NFL revealed that the New Orleans Saints ran a bounty program in which defensive players were rewarded for targeting opponents and injuring them, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams issued an apology.

"I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the ‘pay for performance’ program while I was with the Saints," he said, via ProFootballTalk. "It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."

The NFL began its investigation in early 2010, the seas the Saints won the Super Bowl, after the league received word that then-Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and then-Vikings quarterback Brett Favre may have been targeted.

But the bounty system didn't just take place in New Orleans under Williams. Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported later on Friday that Williams had a similar program when he was the defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins.